Bezos helping House candidate Peter Dixon

BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT
Daily Post Staff Writer

Jeff Bezos and his parents are behind a $1.5 million Super PAC to get former Marine Peter Dixon elected to Congress, campaign finance forms show.

Dixon — the son of a prolific tech investor and a newcomer to local politics — has a vastly larger war chest than his opponents with just 10 days to go before the March 5 primary election.

Bezos donated $10 million to a Super PAC called “With Honor Fund” on Aug. 2, 2018, campaign finance forms show.

The Super PAC, which was set up so donors can exceed a $3,300 contribution limit, has supported campaigns for both Republican and Democratic veterans.

Dixon’s parents, Elizabeth and Donald Dixon, donated $40,000 combined on the same day.
The Super PAC has been around for six years, and Dixon himself donated $5,000 on Nov. 1, 2017, forms show.

Bezos’s mom and dad, Jacklyn and Miguel Bezos, donated $2 million each on March 14 last year, forms show.

The money was then funneled through three more Super PACs, starting with “With Honor Fund II,” which received $5.9 million last year from “With Honor Fund,” forms show. The first Super PAC was shut down on Sept. 13, and the second Super PAC turned around and gave $1.25 million to a third Super PAC, called “Principled Veterans Fund.”

That Super PAC then gave $1.5 million to the “Next Generation Veteran Fund” — the money’s final destination before getting spent on mailers and commercials supporting Dixon.

Unavailable
Dixon, 40, of Portola Valley, couldn’t be reached for comment through his campaign spokeswoman on Thursday or Friday.

Dixon has another $2.8 million to spend on his own campaign: $1.4 million in donations through Feb. 14, and $1.4 million in a personal loan.

Combined with his Super PAC, more than $4 million could be spent on Dixon’s behalf before the primary.

Super PACs are not allowed to coordinate with candidates.

Donald Dixon is the co-founder of ForgePoint Capital in 2015 and Trident Capital in 1993. He has been investing in cybersecurity since 1988 and has sat on the boards for dozens of companies, according to his bio.

The younger Dixon said in ads that he joined the Marines shortly after 9/11, fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, and worked for Hillary Clinton’s State Department.

Attended Menlo School

Dixon went to Menlo School in Atherton. In January 2014 Dixon founded Second Front Systems, a cybersecurity company that designs software for the military.

Fundraising by others
Former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian and Assemblyman Evan Low also have Super PACs campaigning on their behalf.

Low’s Super PAC is funded by PG&E, while Liccardo and Simitian are getting support from two tech executives: Daniel Warmenhoven of 
NetApp is for Liccardo, and Jay Gellert of Health Net is for Simitian.

Not including Super PACs, Liccardo has raised the most money in the race — $2.2 million through Feb. 14.

Simitian’s most recent campaign finance forms weren’t available yesterday.
Low has raised $1.35 million through Feb. 14, forms show.

Palo Alto Councilwoman Julie Lythcott-Haims is next with $595,754 in donations in the same timeframe.

She’s followed by former Saratoga Councilman Rishi Kumar with $289,503, pro-Palestine lawyer Ahmed Mostafa at $201,773 and Stanford graduate student Joby Bernstein at $140,836.

Former Menlo Park Mayor Peter Ohtaki — one of two Republicans in the race — has raised $54,169.

The other, Los Gatos resident Karl Ryan, hasn’t reported any fundraising, according to the Federal Elections Commission.

Palo Alto Councilman Greg Tanaka has raised $15,080, campaign finance forms show.